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Jackie Scully got married on the Cutty Sark on the morning of the London Marathon in April 2017. She then ran the marathon with her new husband, her father and her cousin in aid of Willow and Breast Cancer Care. Hear her inspiring story here.

Pump Aid deliver cleaner and safer water solutions in Malawi. Since the charity started in 1998 they have brought water to over 1.35 million people, which, as Joanna points out, is a "huge amount of change in a relatively short space of time." The charity are currently working on bringing sustainable water solutions to people in Malawi. Joanna, Emily, Iain and Cara (two staff and two volunteers) tell us about this and more in episode 44 of the Good News Shared podcast. In the interview you will hear about: The work Pump Aid do Why Iain and Cara got involved with the charity The impact the work Pump Aid is having The pilot model Pump Aid are working on which, as Joanna explains, will lead to "no more need for intervention.. and everyone will have water access" Why Pump Aid are looking for new volunteers and how you can get involved if you would like to Some good news from the charity ... And much more!

In episode 43 of the Good News Shared podcast we speak with David Russell, Head of Policy and Development for a social enterprise called Spice, about volunteering and time credits. Spice use Time Credits as a tool to create community change, so if you volunteer for one hour, you get a credit to spend at a local venue, such as a theatre, gym, visitor attraction, museum or gallery. Listen to the interview below: [powerpress] Click here to listen to the interview in iTunes Some interesting statistics: More than 22,000 people have earned Time Credits 200,000+ people supported through Time Credit earning 400,000+ hours of time given 81% said Time Credits have had a positive impact on their quality of life 77% have taken part in more community activity 64% spend more time with others in their local community   In the interview you will hear about: What Time Credits are What people are spending their Time Credits on The benefits of using Time Credits to encourage volunteering Some of the places across the UK where you can use Time Credits (St Paul's Cathedral, for example, is just two Time Credits!) How the name 'Spice' came about ... And much more! If you would like to find out more please click here to visit the Spice website.

Dr Wajid Akhter tells us about Charity Week in episode 42 of the Good News Shared podcast. Charity Week is an Islamic Relief campaign that Wajid started more than 13 year ago to get young people to work together and combine their talents and experiences to help people across the world. In the interview Wajid tells us about: Why he started 'Charity Week' The vision of the project and why it lead to such an incredible response from people Some fantastic moments that have happened during the 13 years + that Charity Week has been running Very recent good news from Charity Week ... And much more!

Kofi Dwinfour, a volunteer for a new charity called Skin Deep Behind the Mask, tells us about the work they do and why he got involved in episode 41 of the Good News Shared podcast. Listen to the interview below: [powerpress] Click here to listen to the interview in iTunes Skin Deep Behind the Mask is the only UK charity that supports people with all types of skin disease and conditions. Kofi began volunteering for the charity after meeting the charity Founder, Shabana Islam, who has suffered from a skin disease for more than 20 years. The name of the charity, Skin Deep Behind the Mask, "represents how she feels about her skin condition. She feels as if she's hiding - hence 'behind the mask' - and the real her is being masked by the skin disease." Unfortunately just as Kofi was about to start volunteering with Skin Deep Behind the Mask Shabana's skin condition flared up and she had to stay in hospital for more than a couple of months. This led to Kofi running the charity for Shabana while she was being treated. "She really wanted to be involved with the charity and very often I could tell when I was talking to her how much energy and effort it was taking and the toll it was taking on her, but she wanted to keep in touch and be involved and that is really really inspiring." In the interview you will hear about:  Skin Deep Behind the Mask's five year plan The problems children with skin conditions face and how the charity is planning to support them The number of people in England and Wales who suffer from skin conditions Why a charity supporting people with any type of skin condition is needed  Some good news from Skin Deep Behind the Mask ... And much more! 

Teacher Lynne Wheeler decided to run 12 marathons in 12 months when one of her students suffered severe brain damage. In episode 40 of the Good News Shared podcast Lynne tells us about her incredible marathon challenge. About Ronald McDonald House Charities Lynne has already completed three of the twelve marathons, and having inspired her friends and family, is close to reaching her fundraising target for Ronald McDonald House Charities already.  Ronald McDonald House Charities is an independent charity that provides free 'home away from home# accommodation to families with seriously ill children in hospital. The charity enabled the family of Lynnes' student to stay close by whilst he was being treated in intensive care at London Evelina Children's Hospital.  Why just run one marathon when you can run one every month in 2016?! In the interview Lynne tells us why she decided to run a marathon every month in 2016 instead of just running one. As someone who has never run a marathon I cannot imagine the sacrifice and discipline involved in running one every month for a year. What an incredibly inspirational teacher!   

Paulina Platek realised that opportunities are out there and it's important to make the most of them while at university. In episode 39 of the Good News Shared podcast Paulina tells us about Clothes Line, which she started while studying at The University of Bristol. Clothes Line provided free business clothes to young homeless people for college and job interviews.    "These opportunities are there and you never think that you can go for them or that you'll be successful in getting them but you can." - Paulina Platek   In the interview you will find out about:  Why Paulina started Clothes Line Paulina's favourite times during her time running Clothes Line The challenges she faced and what surprised her  How the Lloyds Scholars programme helped Paulina during university and beyond ...  And much more!    Find out more about the Lloyds Scholars programme here. 

Maria Brooker and Rachel Hill tell us about the Blue Hair Day campaign they started to raise money for Harrison's Fund, a charity working hard to eradicate Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disease which currently has no cure.   In the interview you will hear about: What Harrison’s Fund do and who they help Why Maria and Rachel (along with a few others) started the Blue Hair Day campaign How the campaign went from a local one to a national one The importance of the date of the Blue Hair Day campaign (26thJune) How the first Blue Hair Day campaign went in 2015 and the plans for 2016 How researchers believe Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a curable disease, and how action now could help boys being born now with the disease  How you can get involved in Blue Hair Day   For more information about Harrison's Fund please click here to visit their website. 

Esi Addae tells us about VSO's International Citizen Service (ICS) in episode 37 of the Good News Shared podcast. In the interview you will hear about: What VSO do and what the International Citizen Service programme is Why VSO's International Citizen Service is a fantastic opportunity for people aged 18 - 25 What Esi did while volunteering in Kenya for 3 months Esi's favourite moments from her time in Kenya Why Esi volunteered in the UK after her 3 month placement in Kenya The lesson Esi learnt thanks to safari ants The challenges Esi experienced while volunteering in Kenya Why Esi is hoping to go back to Kenya to see her host family again soon Some good news from VSO's International Citizen Service programme ... And much more! Click here to find out more about the International Citizen Service programme. 

Alex Swallow, the Founder of Young Charity Trustees tells us why he is so passionate about diverse charity boards in episode 36 of the Good News Shared podcast. In the interview you will hear about: Why Alex started Young Charity Trustees almost 5 years ago What Young Charity Trustees do How old you have to be to be classed as a young trustee Alex's favourite moment during his time running Young Charity Trustees The growing awareness of the need for diversity in charity boards The challenges Alex has faced in his role What charities can do to attract young people to their board ... And much more!     To find out more about becoming a young trustee:  Go to the Trustees Week website Visit the Young Charity Trustees section on my website to access more information and resources Join the Young Charity Trustees LinkedIn Group Also if you are interested please do listen to the interview I did with Jonathan Levy who is a Trustee for Dyspraxia Foundation.

Milly Unwin, a volunteer for Room to Read, shares her experiences with us in episode 35 of the Good News Shared podcast. In the interview you will hear about: - The work Room to Read do- How people from around the world are getting involved- Milly's favourite memories from her time with the charity so far- Some incredible news from Room to Read And much more! Go to www.goodnewsshared.com to see an extract from the interview

In episode 34 of the Good News Shared podcast we speak with Olivia Patt, a volunteer for Kidasha, a small NGO working with children in Nepal.  In the interview you will hear about: Why Olivia was interested in volunteering for Kidasha, rather than the newer charities working in Nepal How volunteering helped Olivia secure a job in the 'third sector' The time a group of boys in Nepal taught Olivia how to fish Some of the challenges Olivia faced when volunteering in Nepal The support Kidasha provided to young people after the earthquake in Nepal in April 2015 How Kidasha will be marking the one year anniversary of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal ... And much more! Find out more about Kidasha by visiting their website.

Barbara Heyes, a volunteer for Global Care, shares some incredible stories from her time in Uganda in episode 33 of the Good News Shared podcast. In this interview you will hear about:  What Global Care do and who they help How Barbara went from sponsoring a child to actively volunteering with the charity The impact a donated play parachute is having on children in Uganda Some of the challenges Barbara has experienced whilst volunteering and how she has overcome them Some good news from Global Care  ... And much much more!  Find out more about Global Care by visiting their website.

Khalil Benkhalil shares his experiences and stories from Penny Appeal with us in episode 32 of the Good News Shared podcast. Khalil is an enthusiastic volunteer for Penny Appeal, a charity that makes a big difference using small change. In the interview you will hear about: - What Penny Appeal do- What it was like to drive through Europe to Greece to hand out items such as sleeping bags, hygiene supplies and food to refugees- How Penny Appeal volunteers helped people affected by the floods in Carlisle - What attracted Khalil to Penny Appeal initially- Challenges Khalil has faced and how he has overcome them- Some good news from Penny Appeal... And much more! Find out more about Penny Appeal by visiting their website.

69-year-old Marilyn Nolan has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2016 New Year’s Honours list for her outstanding contribution to work for the community. In episode 31 of the Good News Shared podcast Marilyn shares stories from her time volunteering with RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People). In the interview you will hear about:  What RNIB do Why Marilyn started volunteering for them Marilyn's incredible family Marilyn's favourite memories from her time with RNIB ... And much more!  To find out more about volunteering for RNIB please call their helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit their website. 

Michaela Roast was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 17 and from diagnosis was assigned a CLIC Sargent Social Worker. Now aged 25, Michaela has been volunteering for CLIC Sargent since 2014 as she wanted to give something back to the charity. Listen to the Good News Shared podcast episode 30 to hear about Michaela's story and her experiences with CLIC Sargent, both as a service user and as a volunteer.  In the interview (which is just under 17 minutes long) you will hear about:  The support CLIC Sargent gave to Michaela and her family when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma The work CLIC Sargent do to support children and young people with cancer Michaela's favourite volunteering experiences Some good news from CLIC Sargent And much more! 

Suzzanne Payne, an Ambassador for African Promise - a small charity working to improve the quality of primary education in rural Kenya - tells us why she is so passionate about the organisation in episode 29 of the Good News Shared podcast. In the interview you will find out:   About the work African Promise do in Kenya, their achievements, and their plans for the future How Suzanne heard about the charity What Suzanne does to support African Promise The differences in donors in the UK compared with the USA, from Suzanne's experiences Some good news from African Promise ... And much more!   Find out more about African Promise by visiting their website.

Eric Wiltshire tells us about the difference refurbished computers is making on the lives of children in East Slovakia and their community in episode 28 of the Good News Shared podcast. In this interview you will find out about Digital Angels, the charitable organisation Eric helped set up in June 2015. In just six months Digital Angels have changed the lives of many children in East Slovakia. Digital Angels get computers donated to them from companies who would otherwise scrap them (which would cost them money!). The team of Digital Angels volunteers then refurbish the computers and give them to disenfranchised children and people who are in real need in East Slovakia. Listen to the interview to find out: - What led to Digital Angels being startedHow many computer systems Digital Angels have given out in just over six months - How - together with the local Mayor - Digital Angels helped a 70 year old woman *meet* her grandchildren for the first time - About the young people in East Slovakia who are making the most of the opportunity Digital Angels is giving them - How to send your old computers and laptops to Eric in Slovakia for him and the Digital Angels team to refurbish and then distribute to people who need them. - Some good news from Digital Angels ... And much more! To find out more about Digital Angels please visit their Facebook page.

The Good News Shared podcast launched in August 2015. So far we have interviewed 25 inspiring volunteers for our podcast. The feedback from listeners has been great - here are just some of our reviews in iTunes:  "I've done some volunteering and coordinated a number of volunteering efforts over the years and I enjoy hearing others share and offer their insights into giving back." - OrganizeMindfully "Great stories and interviews with inspiring people. A wonderful way to start your day." - Harold Rhee "So awesome to hear these uplifting stories." - Anne Listen to the special New Year episode to find out which three were the most listened to episodes in 2015.